How To Be An Idiot On Vacation (and in your exam!)

I mentioned previously that I have just returned from a French trip, and that after many, many years of travelling all over the world I did the one thing that I thought I would never do.  I left my passport in the hotel safe.

I didn’t realise that this had happened until my train pulled into Paris two and a half hours away.  You know that sinking feeling as you realise.  I went cold, and then instantly hot when I realised.  Luckily I was able to get in touch with the hotel and they found our passports in the safe.  However we did have a four hour round trip and another £200 to pay for the mistake!  It’s definitely not a mistake I will make again in a hurry.

Note to self – check everything.  This advice also goes to you in your CIPS exams.  Check you have answered every question (especially if you have answered them out of order).  This might seem obvious but I have had a number of students over the years tell me that they completely missed a question because of this.

Check that you have properly answered the question, read what you have written and add things in if you need to.  This is important as there is a tendency to answer what you want the question to be, not what it actually is.

Check that you have addressed the context.  Remember marks will be allocated to the context of the question (e.g. applied to a procurement department of an organisation of your choice).  To gain the highest marks you MUST address context, and if there is a case scenario you must refer back to this.

Finally check you have thoroughly explained your points, your exam is like a job interview – you need to show the examiner everything you know.

Never leave early, utilise the time to make sure you have checked everything

Level 3 Diamond Timetable

Exam Series Module No. of sessions Dates
November 2023
M1
3
2nd Oct, 16th Oct, 30th Oct
March 2024
M2 & M3
6
15th Jan, 29th Jan, 5th Feb, 19th Feb, 26th Feb, 4th Mar
May 2024
M4
3
15th Apr, 22nd Apr, 29th Apr
July 2024
M5
3
3rd June, 10th June, 24th June

Level 6 Diamond Timetable

Exam Series Module No. of sessions Dates
November 2023
M1
3
5th Oct, 19th Oct, 9th November
March 2024
M2 & M5
5
25th Jan, 1st Feb, 8th Feb, 22nd Feb, 29th Feb
May 2024
M4 & M7
4
18th April, 25th April, 2nd May, 9th May
July 2024
M3 & M8
5
30th May, 13th June,20th June, 27th June, 4th July

Level 5 Diamond Timetable

Exam Series Module No. of sessions Dates
November 2023
M1 & M2
4
4th Oct, 11th Oct, 18th Oct, 25th Oct, 1st Nov, 8th Nov
March 2024
M5, M15 & M9
4
31st Jan, 7th Feb, 21st Feb, 28th Feb, 6th March
May 2024
M3 & M8
4
10th April, 17th April, 24th April, 1st May
July 2024
M4
3
5th June, 12th June, 26th June

Level 4 Diamond Timetable

Exam Series Module No. of sessions Dates
November 2023
M1 & M2
5
3rd Oct, 10th Oct, 17th Oct, 24th Oct, 7th Nov
March 2024
M3, M5, M7
6
23rd Jan, 30th Jan, 6th Feb, 20th Feb, 27th Feb, 5th March
May 2024
M4 & M6
4
9th April, 16th April, 23rd April, 30th April
July 2024
M8
3
4th June, 18th June, 2nd July